Blockchain for smartphone data

All these developments indicate that finally security gets its due mindshare and will require the regulator, government and other key stakeholders in the ecosystem to build a secure and reliable backend for Smartphones.

Security is the last thing that comes to our minds while adopting a technology. This is an unfortunate reality of adoption of technologies, especially in this part of the world.

In India three recent developments have triggered the focus of entire ecosystem towards the safety and security of data of mobile users. One was the landmark judgement pronouncing Privacy as a fundamental right.Second was MeitY writing to few Smartphone makers asking them to explain the measures they are taking to ensure data safety. Finally, TRAI also released a consultation paper on privacy, security and ownership of the data in the telecom sector.

All these developments indicate that finally security gets its due mindshare and will require the regulator, government and other key stakeholders in the ecosystem to build a secure and reliable backend for Smartphones.

Globally, Blockchain is seeing increasing acceptance for several use-cases where the data privacy and secrecy is important. However, this concept of mapping data with the level of sensitivity may not be the right approach.There is no denying that certain data like financial and health, are very sensitive for an individual and they should be secure. But, as the interactions with and through Smartphones are increasing due to their pervasiveness in every walk of life, every kind of data has sensitivity and needs privacy and security of a certain degree across the different sources and types of data.

Talking specifically of Smartphones, the regulator or government cannot force the ecosystem to secure the data by say, brining data centres to India. That would mean OS, App, Chipset, Handset, Content and Operators all brining their data centres in to the Indian territory. Further, even if that is done, the user will connect to people outside the country and there will be data transfers to some extent.

At the same time, allowing some aggregate levels of data to be shared with the ecosystem is good for the consumer as well. It helps the industry to delight the users by offering the best and the most appropriate solutions without letting the user get in to the pain of sharing feedback and preferences every now and then.The business strategies teach one simple rule of knowing the consumer as much as possible.

That would make sure that a comb is not sold to a bald person. Leveraging technology and analytics this could be done by businesses without invoking participation from the consumers and serve customized and innovative solutions.

The Smartphone ecosystem in India should take a forward-looking approach and adopt a solution that lets the present ecosystem undisturbed but also ensures the securities of the highest levels. There could be possibly several technology answers to this. But, it would be worth to consider Blockchain for the same.Blockchain as of now is finding its uptake in Financial services and globally other use cases are being derived. For instance, legal and government documentation using a Blockchain architecture.This is bound to happen in India also where Financial and Government data would eventually be designed on the Blockchain architecture.

However, the Smartphone industry must also pro-actively explore Blockchain for data storage of users. This will be much easier to implement and result oriented rather than the government asking all the stakeholders to bring servers to India. We have seen in the past how Blackberry responded when it was asked to have local servers in several countries. Apple also did not cooperate with the investigating agency citing privacy concerns some time ago.

Even if the Government of India impresses the ecosystem to follow the instructions, it will be impossible to have consensus among all the enablers. The technology ecosystem is spread globally and building everything from scratch in a single country is not only difficult but impossible to achieve.Blockchain, on the other hand will allow achieve the desired levels of security and privacy using the resources globally.

Since the data and information stored will be disintegrated and distributed, it will not be hackable and even if one of the entity, say handset maker, will have some of the information, it won’t be affecting the privacy as other blocks of making it meaningful will be with so many other ecosystem players.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETTelecom.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETTelecom.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.

Faisal drives new initiates at CMR. Having over 13 years of research and consulting expertise in technology domain, he specifically covers Telecom, IP Technologies, Devices, Electronics, Applications and other emerging technologies. Faisal completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing and Finance. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Faisal drives new initiates at CMR. Having over 13 years of research and consulting expertise in technology domain, he specifically covers Telecom, IP Technologies, Devices, Show more.. Electronics, Applications and other emerging technologies. Faisal completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing and Finance. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.